John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is estimated that there are approximately 22,000 Travellers in Ireland, perhaps 4,500 families. With regard to the history of the Traveller community, experts say that the separation from settled communities happened 1,000 to 2,000 years ago. That makes it, to my mind and the minds of the experts, a distinct ethnic minority. It is interesting that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has expressed serious concern at this State's persistent refusal to regard Travellers as an ethnic minority.

I am a member of the human rights committee in Strasbourg. There are international criteria established for ethnic minorities and the Travellers have satisfied these internationally recognised criteria for the past 20 years. It is beyond belief that in 2015 we should still have to debate this issue and not recognise that they are an ethnic minority. I have some knowledge of this subject because I was chairperson with regard to Traveller accommodation in Waterford and I know many Traveller people in the county, some who wish to be housed and some who wish to stay nomadic. That is their preference. Personally, I would like everybody to be housed in good quality accommodation and so forth but if it affects the Traveller community that they are part of, that must be recognised.

I refer the Minister again to the European Union, the Council of Europe and the human rights committee in Europe. They should be recognised.

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